Alan Silva Celestrial Communication OrchestraLuna Surface
Released 1969 on BYG Actuel
Reviewed by Dave Furgess, 06/03/2006ce
Silva is best known as being Albert Ayler's bassist and the author of the skull crushing "Skillfulness" album for ESP-Disk. He also put together this mammoth ensemble with the intention of updating John Coltrane's "OM" and "Ascension" & Ornette Coleman's "Free Jazz." After hearing "Luna Surface" I would have to say he was successful. Silva is the director of a supergroup that features Archie Shepp, Anthony Braxton, Dave Burrell, Malachi Favors and other "heavy" friends. What is basically on offer here is a 30 minute non-stop free jazz cluster-bomb. It makes The Stooges "L.A. Blues" sound like Boots "Fucking" Randolph and his Yakety "Fucking" sax.
These guys mean business, and sheer power of the playing of everyone involved is astouding. I haven't heard this many elephant honks since my fifth grade field trip to the Stamford Zoo. Holy Toledo!
A friend of mine and I rang in the New Year with this album while watching Mariah Carey on Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve (or whatever the fuck it's called.) I then went out and shot 100 jumpshots on the basketball court down the street in 20 degree temperatures. This album can do crazy things to you.